19103 Failure of the 'Treaty 



chose the general preference being for the second 

 alternative. I myself inclined to their view, but 

 could not be sure how it would work out. 



The more important omissions concerned Puget 

 Sound, which was thus left with scanty protection Sound 

 and the wholly inadequate patrol furnished by the 

 state of Washington. Thoroughgoing conservation 

 we had not ventured to propose, as that must mean 

 entire suspension of commercial fishing for red salmon 

 for four or even eight years; but had our regulations 

 been accepted, the situation today would be less 

 discouraging and a great industry might still be in 

 operation. As I insisted at the time, overfishing had 

 to stop immediately or soon there would be no com- 

 mercial fishing at all! 



Baffled as we were by the Senate's action, there 

 remained the slight hope that some compromise 

 might be suggested by Canada. But the Council Canada's 

 simply refused to confirm the mutilated document, rf f usal 



111-1 i i r i ill- .to confirm 



holding that the treaty itself bound both signatories 

 to accept all the findings of the Joint Commission. 

 Though no longer officially connected with the mat- 

 ter, in a communication to Dr. Prince I expressed the 

 opinion that it would be advisable for Canada to 

 adopt the forty-nine articles endorsed by the Senate, 

 even though the series was left incomplete. Outside 

 of the Sound they would practically meet the situa- 

 tion and could be later amended or extended. More 

 important than this, however, international agree- 

 ment would pledge the United States to continued co- 

 operation. 



The Council taking its stand on all or nothing, the 

 whole matter finally lapsed. Meanwhile conditions 

 in Lake Michigan have considerably improved; those 



C 275 H 



